Over the last eight months, dermatologists have seen more than 15 patients in a week complaining of excessive hair fall. People have developed noticeable hair loss after recovering from COVID-19.

The medical term for this hair shedding is telogen effluvium. It occurs when more than usual hair enters the shedding phase of the hair growth life cycle. It may result from a fever or illness; fever is a common symptom of COVID-19. Telogen effluvium causes noticeable hair shedding; however, it is not alarming. A dermatologists intervention is needed if there is an accompanying rash, itchy scalp, or burning sensation.

The skin complications in the COVID-19 infection were primarily due to the hyperhydration effect of personal protective equipment, friction, epidermal barrier breakdown, and contact reactions, all of which could attribute to the aggravation of existing skin disease. Clinical manifestations have included burning, itching, and stinging.

The most commonly affected skin sites were the nasal bridge, cheeks, forehead, and hands. The prolonged contact with masks and goggles may lead to several cutaneous diseases, ranging from contact and pressure urticaria or contact dermatitis to enhance pre-existing dermatides. The ling term use of protective gloves also causes occlusions and a hyperhydration state of the epidermis clinically seen as maceration and erosions. This may eventually cause contact dermatitis.

Increased hand washing with detergents or disinfectants can also affect the hydrolipid mantle of the skin surface and may be attributed to the irritation and development of contact dermatitis. The atopic diathesis, low humidity, frequent hand washing, wet work, gloves, and duration of employment (in the case of health workers) are significant risk factors for the development or aggravation of hand dermatitis.

Reference: Darlenski R, Tsankov N. COVID-19 pandemic and the skin: what should dermatologists know? Clin Dermatol. 2020 Mar 24. DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.03.012